Every day there is something at Janus van Kasteren. The top favorite among the trucks is faced with problem after problem. Yesterday, the driver from Veldhoven again had engine problems and ran out of diesel. “It can’t be done like this anymore.”
Full of emotion, Van Kasteren tells his story after another frustrating day. “You have been driving with engine problems all day and then you run out of diesel a few kilometers before the finish. Then the courage falls into your shoes.”
The driver sounds powerless and indicates that he cannot keep this up for much longer. “I only come here for one thing and that is the final victory. Then you can’t use this stuff. I hope they fix it or I’ll quit.”
“Without engine problems I drive them here in front of the snot”
Clear words from the top favorite who, according to him, does not react out of emotion. “I have nothing with a medal for finishing. I want to win. Without engine problems I drive them here the snot in front of the eyes. It doesn’t have to be that way for me.”
Whether the problem will be found in the short term remains to be seen. The fact that Van Kasteren ran out of diesel in the fourth stage is probably due to the engine failure. “There is something wrong with the truck, but no one knows what. It will consume more, but I have to give it full throttle otherwise I won’t get on the dunes.”
“There’s something wrong with the truck but no one knows what”
Earlier this Dakar Rally it was not easy for the driver from Veldhoven. He received a time penalty in stage two, which meant that he missed the stage victory. And in stage three he helped other drivers out of the water, but it is still unclear whether he will get that time back.
It remains a frustrating rally for Team de Rooy anyway. Vick Versteijnen dropped out in the first stage with engine problems. A bright spot is Martin van den Brink’s performance. He is in a good second position.
See also: Top favorite Van Kasteren without diesel during the fourth stage of the Dakar Rally